News

Resident reports phone scam to police

A Los Altos resident contacted police March 15 after nearly becoming the victim of a phone scam in which the perpetrators fraudulently posed as law enforcement officers.

According to Los Altos Police Sgt. Cameron Shearer, the female resident received a phone call at approximately 9:30 a.m. from someone posing as an FBI agent. The impostor informed the resident that the FBI recently recovered $600,000 in stolen Publishers Clearing House winnings earmarked for her.

Shearer said the resident grew suspicious after the suspect asked her to wire $1,800 to Mexico City to cover miscellaneous fees to receive the $600,000. The suspect then offered to have a local law enforcement official contact her to confirm the matter, Shearer added.

Approximately one hour later, the victim received that second phone call, with a suspect identifying himself as a Los Altos Police officer – using an actual officer’s name as his own during the conversation.

Woman arrested downtown

Shearer said the matter is under investigation. for petty theft Police arrested a 26-year-old woman in downtown Los Altos last week after she stole an undisclosed amount of cash and other items from a patron’s purse at Le Boulanger. According to Los Altos Police, the victim was driving home after a March 12 visit to the downtown bakery and café, located at 301 Main St., when she realized she had left her purse there. Upon returning to Le Boulanger, she asked a patron, seated near her initial visit if the patron had seen the purse. The patron went to the bakery’s restroom, returned with the purse and handed it back to the victim. The victim confronted the patron after she discovered cash and membership cards missing from her wallet. The female patron subsequently confessed to the crime and was placed under citizen’s arrest until police arrived at the scene shortly before 11 a.m. The suspect was booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail on one charge of petty theft.

Auto burglaries

March 12, 7:59 a.m., 2200 block of Homestead Court: An unknown suspect stole several personal items from two cars in the unsecured parking lot of an apartment complex. One car was unlocked at the time of the incident, while the second vehicle had one of its windows smashed to force entry.

Misdemeanor warrant arrest

March 13, 8:13 a.m., 600 block of Fremont Avenue: Police arrested a 30-year-old male motorist for an outstanding DUI warrant during a traffic stop. The motorist was arrested and booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail.

DUI arrest

March 14, 2:34 a.m., Dolores and Fremont avenues: Police arrested a female motorist for driving under the influence after patrolling officers pulled her over for a moving violation. Police cited and released the motorist, in her early 20s, from the Los Altos Police station.

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